But now, Victoria didn’t ask any more questions. Instead, she seemed to find excuses for him, as if smoothing over the air between them.
So why did Edmund feel no sense of relief, like he had just narrowly escaped a trap?
He stood there, lost in thought, his gaze distant, until Victoria sighed softly and walked over, patting him on the shoulder.
"What’s going on? Don’t tell me the buffalo wings left you all confused?"
"You didn’t finish the noodles at lunch. Are you planning to make up for it tonight?"
Victoria’s smile was effortless, her voice light and teasing, the brightness of her presence filling the space.
For a moment, Edmund almost believed that nothing had changed.
In the past, Victoria adored the noodles he made.
But today, for some reason, whether his cooking had lost its touch or some other reason, she only ate half before setting her spoon and fork down.
"Why aren’t you eating?" he asked, unable to ignore the strange feeling in the air.
"Probably because I had lunch too late," she replied, her tone casual. "I’m just not that hungry yet."
She’d savored the soup he made in the past, but that had been because she loved him. Now that her heart had shifted, even the soup felt lackluster.
When the memory of lunch crossed his mind, his conscience heavy, Edmund didn’t push the matter. Instead, he silently went to the kitchen, washing the dishes in quiet reflection.
As he moved through the apartment, from the kitchen to the living room, Edmund didn’t seem to notice anything was missing. Perhaps his guilt had clouded his awareness, or maybe he simply didn’t care enough to look.
Fresh from her shower, Victoria twisted her damp hair into a loose bun with a pencil. Her face, free of makeup, glowed softly under the gentle warmth of the yellow light.
Suddenly, Edmund couldn’t help but recall the rainy day when they first met. He stepped closer, his arms instinctively wrapping around her waist.
Her scent filled the air for a brief second, familiar and comforting. In the past, whenever he did this, Victoria would smile at him, sometimes even turning to kiss him with the same warmth she always had.
But tonight, she didn’t turn around.
A sharp unease struck Edmund.
"Victoria?"
Victoria didn’t respond. Instead, she gently brushed his hand away from her waist.
"I need to finish this report tonight. You should rest," she said, her voice steady, though there was a flicker of something deeper in her eyes.
"I’ve already explained everything to you," Edmund said, his voice darkening with frustration. "Do you really have to act like this?"
The steady rhythm of keys tapping filled the room as Victoria glanced up at him, her gaze tinged with helplessness.
"I really need to finish this report," she replied, her tone cool and composed. "If you don’t believe me, there’s nothing more I can say."
That night, Edmund, simmering with anger, retreated to the guest room. He didn’t notice the missing stuffed bear nor the emptiness that lingered.
The next day, Victoria sat at her desk, scrolling through websites, searching for gear for her upcoming trip to Antarctica.
Though her academic record was impeccable, she had little experience with fieldwork. The idea of working in Antarctica, so vast, so unforgiving, was still just a concept to her, something learned from textbooks, not lived.
She spent the entire afternoon scrolling through endless pages but made little headway.
Then, a notification popped up, a friend request.
The name on the screen immediately caught Victoria’s attention. It was from a senior who was also going on the expedition.
When she had submitted her application the day before, her advisor had mentioned him and urged her to add him. But between running into Edmund and Isabella, she had completely forgotten about it.
Without hesitation, she accepted the request. Almost instantly, the senior sent her a detailed list of essentials for the trip to Antarctica as if he had known what she needed.
Relieved to have found someone who could help, Victoria quickly sent her thanks.
Clearly busy senior replied with a simple “No problem” before falling silent.
Victoria didn’t mind. She followed the list closely and quickly ordered everything she needed, her heart light with the knowledge that the preparations were finally coming together.
